Center for Mental Health and the Church
As part of the Streams of Influence campaign, Biola University seeks to raise $2.5 million to establish the Center for Mental Health and the Church — which will offer resources to advance the holistic well-being and vitality of ministry leaders, churches and Christian organizations for years to come.
The Need
Mental health challenges have reached a crisis point, and local churches are frequently the crucial first point of contact for individuals seeking support. Pastors and ministry leaders face unique pressures that directly impact their longevity and effectiveness in service.
- Many American pastors are quietly grappling with mental health struggles. Nearly half — 47% — report feeling lonely or isolated, and more than 50% of pastors report feelings of depression (Barna, 2024).
- The rate of clinical depression among clergy is at least as high as that of the general population (Duke Clergy Health Initiative).
- At least 30% of pastors are in moderate-to-severe burnout at any given time, often unaware of the severity until it is too late (Flourishing in Ministry, 2025).
At Biola’s Rosemead School of Psychology, pastoral and congregational well-being and flourishing are of vital importance. The Mental Health and the Church Initiative was established several years ago to support this need.
As the initiative has grown and the need has become increasingly evident, the next phase of this work is the establishment of a Center for Mental Health and the Church, which will come alongside ministry leaders and churches to support holistic well-being in ministry contexts. We are seeking funds to create an endowed executive director faculty position, providing for the long-term sustainability and impact of the center.
Strategic Objectives
The Center for Evangelism and Missions, housed within Talbot School of Theology, will have one primary goal and several focused objectives. The primary goal is to strengthen the church in its effective witness to the gospel. To achieve this goal, we have identified several objectives that we will focus on, including, but not limited to:
Training Students
Contribute to the Christ-centered formation of future psychologists who love and serve the local church.
Coaching
Training a network of “flourishing in ministry” coaches to come alongside pastors, promoting well-being and resilience.
Resourcing
Curating and offering practical mental health and well-being resources for ministry leaders, congregations, denominations, and parachurch ministries.
Researching
Leading in producing, aggregating, and disseminating cutting-edge research on positive mental health and well-being for pastors and congregations.
I value the moments of encounter with those that authentically pursue and long for the Lord Jesus, in faculty and students alike. My shared time as both a grad student and as staff has been filled with a deep sense of knowing the Lord sees and cares.